How to prepare a truck to operate in freezing conditions

[tkoden]

I have a coworker that just purchased a 2009 F350 and is moving from CA to the Detroit area for work. The truck is FULLY loaded and came with a block heater. I have heard about issues with diesel fuel jelling at low temperatures. Are there any other precautions he will need to take to make sure his truck will start in the mornings? Will he need some kind of fuel tank heater or warming blanket?

Thanks for the help guys

[chuck_s_jr]

no just plug the block heater in at night. diesel fuel will not jell truck. will start up at low temperatures with no problem. read your book that come with the truck.

[99350sd]

I also have a new 09 f350 lariat and dont expect any winter difficulties I wont plug it in unless it gets really cold out like -20c or colder or if you park it facing a real cold wind. I owned a 99 f350 for 9-1/2 years with a 7.3 and maybe be plugged in 3-4 times in all those years without any trouble.the new 6.4 has alot better glow plug system then the old ones in my opinion.also I run the ford fuel additive in my 09 and it seemed to have reduced the amount of re-gens and also I think it has something in it for water/gelling problems. sorry almost forgot I live about 4 hrs north in canada, good luck with the new job.

[olddieseldude]

My truck has had no problem with cold ( temps to -5F ) since I bought it in 2005 until last year it got to -12 degrees F one day, here in Indy, and the diesel gelled. I had not been putting anything in the diesel during the winter on a regular basis. I won't make that mistake again.

[ndmtnsledder]

I live in ND it regularly gets to -40 plus windshield here I don't think it gets that cold in Detroit regularly though. There are some charts around as to at what temps you need different blends or additives but I've never seen a good one. I usually will start adding a antigelling additive around 15degrees(I use Howes or Diesel 911). When it starts getting down around 0 i'll start going to a 25% #1 blend by the time it gets to -40 I'll run 50% plus blend of #1. Keep it parked out of the wind and better yet if possible keep it inside at night. The new systems do a good job of keeping the fuel warm once its running. The biggest problem I know of is on a cold day run it down to a 1/4 or 1/8 tank then fill with fresh cold fuel out of underground storage and watch it gel. He's also going to want the winter front to help the engine warm up.

[senix]

I have started my 6.4 in -1 this last winter without it being plugged in. The 6.4 is suppose to start unassisted to like -20 I think. I was at a hotel otherwise I would have plugged in. Let me tell that cab was cold!!!! I let it run for just a couple of minutes and then started out slow for a few miles.

They do have covers for the radiators but I don't think it would be needed.

[dzzz]

The diesel he buys in the winter in Detroit is not the same as he would buy on the CA coast. As the truck is "going home" you can be pretty sure it's going to work.

Oh, and if he's a native Californian I strongly encourage him to google "espar coolant heater"

[jsmichael]

He should definitely get the Winter Grille Cover to keep snow out of the air intake while driving down the road. It might not hurt to purchase a spare air filter to keep in the truck if he's not going to use the cover.

It also doesn't hurt to add diesel fuel supplement from time to time. I use Power Service Diesel Fuel Supplement® +Cetane Boost® at each fill-up. Amsoil and Stanadyne also make good additives.

If the weather forecast says that the temps are going to be below zero for the following morning, then I'll plug my truck's engine block heater in and let a timer kick it on about two hours before I have to start the truck.

Speaking of starting the engine on cold mornings, I prefer to run a synthetic oil, which in my case is Amsoil, during the winter, but I know some people will run a 15W-40 conventional oil year-round in cold climates and not experience any problems.

Finally, if his truck didn't come with tires with decent traction on snow-covered & slippery roads, then I would get new tires to handle the slippery roads. I have Goodyear Wranglers, but BF Goodrich and Michelin also make good tires for winter driving.

[rvogel]

jsmichael
yours is about the best summary for cold weather running. Use synthetic oil (0W-40 or 5W-40), use fuel additive (helps with the ULSD as well). The Michigan diesel fuel will have anti-gel additives in winter, so you shouldn't have any trouble unless you fill up in July and don't start it again until December!

[jsmichael]

Originally Posted by rvogel

jsmichael
yours is about the best summary for cold weather running. Use synthetic oil (0W-40 or 5W-40), use fuel additive (helps with the ULSD as well). The Michigan diesel fuel will have anti-gel additives in winter, so you shouldn't have any trouble unless you fill up in July and don't start it again until December!

Thanks. One more thing, albeit minor, is that you might also want to carry some lock de-icer in the cab of your truck in case you have a locking fuel cap or toolbox.

[senix]

Originally Posted by jsmichael

Thanks. One more thing, albeit minor, is that you might also want to carry some lock de-icer in the cab of your truck in case you have a locking fuel cap or toolbox.

i always carry a cigarette lighter that i can use to heat a key if needed.

[davydee]

If he's got heated seats, turn them on, too. We have an aux tank and I add an anti-gel to it when I fill it, but haven't had any problems cranking and starting in cold weather. Truck does crank better than our 2001 7.3L did in cold weather.

[newbie_101]

From experience (see location) you'll want a front grill cover and you'll want to plug in if temps are below -15C for any extended period of time. These trucks will tell you they're not happy after 10 hours in those temps. They'll start but they'll hate it. Any area that is subject to these temps will have anti-gel in any diesel you buy.

Good luck

[KTMGUY]

BTW, the manual sez that running the block heater longer than 3 hours doesn't increase the oil temperature. Newbie_101's timer is a good idea.

[guardrail22]

6.4 starts much better in cold because it doesn't use hydraulicly actuated fuel injectors.